I have always made spaghetti the same way. It was good, but never great. One day a couple years ago, I ate dinner with my daughter, Breanne. She made spaghetti and it was delicious. The best I had ever eaten. I was surprised and curious since I am the one who taught her to cook.
“What do you do different in your spaghetti?” I questioned.
She replied, “I let it simmer for a long time.”
I began to do the same thing. Surprisingly, it took my spaghetti from good to great.
A couple years ago, I wanted to take my writing to a new level, so I hired some help.
In times past, I wrote my articles on the spur of the moment. Whatever God gave me, I quickly sat down and put pen to paper. I wrote what I was impressed to write, sent it to Bre and she scheduled it to go out to our readers.
One thing I learned about my writing is I must allow it to simmer, so to speak. I now write an article, then walk away, and let it sit before going back to it to make needed changes.
Just like the spaghetti, when I responded to this instruction, it took my writing to a different level. Noticeably so.
The Word of God works the same way.
Blessed is the man
Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,
Nor stands in the path of sinners,
Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
But his delight is in the law of the Lord,
And in His law he meditates day and night.
He shall be like a tree
Planted by the rivers of water,
That brings forth its fruit in its season,
Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper. Psalm 1:1-3
The Bible teaches us success comes from meditating on God’s word. To meditate means to mutter, muse, imagine and ponder. In other words, to allow it to simmer.
With the spaghetti, simmering brought out flavors that were hidden. With the writing, simmering brought new words and phrases that added impact to my articles. I began to see everything I wrote with new eyes.
With the Word of God, allowing it to simmer, will bring out revelation and insight we may not have seen before.
Not only that, but the Bible says when we choose to mediate on the Word of God day and night, it will have residual benefits. We will be like a well-watered tree that always bears fruit. Our leaves will not wither, no matter the season. Everything we put our hand to, will prosper.
Psalm 119:15 says, I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways.
Psalm 119:148 says, My eyes are awake before the watches of the night, that I may meditate on your promise.
David, a man after the heart of God, knew the benefits of meditating on God’s Word. This practice brought great success into his life. We too should take time each day to muse and ponder on the Word of God.
Today, don’t just quickly read through your Bible. Take time to let the Word of God simmer. Meditate on it. Ponder it. Draw everything out of it that you possibly can. Study it. Pray about it. Let it become a part of who you are. Then, and only then, it will do all it is supposed to do in your life – bring great success. What an awesome promise!
